Today’s Clean Water in Iowa Starts Here tour stop is celebrating the return of World Pork Expo. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig joined the Iowa Pork Producers Association to showcase the important role Iowa pork producers play in our state’s economy and the global food chain. Iowa pork producers are also an important partner in the state’s ongoing conservation efforts.

Today, Iowa Pork Producers Association announced a $25,000 donation to support the implementation of edge-of-field practices across the state. The association has contributed $100,000 over the past four years to support water quality projects including saturated buffers, bioreactors and wetlands.

“Public-private partnerships are critical to advancing the conservation work underway across the state,” said Secretary Naig. “We appreciate the continued investment and support of Iowa pork farmers to scale-up the adoption of conservation practices that protect our natural resources like soil and water.”

“These edge-of-field practices are some of the more expensive water quality projects for farmers to install, but they are also some of the most effective in controlling loss of nitrogen and phosphorus,” said Dennis Liljedahl, Essex pig farmer and IPPA president. “We are pleased to continue this ongoing effort in partnership with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. Leaving a better environment for the next generation of Iowans is important to us.”

The Iowa Pork Producers Association is one of over 350 partners collaborating with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship to provide financial assistance, leverage state funding and supply technical resources to support farmers at the local level.

To learn more about the soil heath and water quality work underway, visit CleanWaterIowa.org.

About the Clean Water in Iowa Starts Here Campaign

The campaign, created by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa Soybean Association and Newsradio 1040 WHO aims to raise awareness about the conservation work underway all across Iowa. It also highlights opportunities for both rural and urban residents to use soil health and water quality best practices and play an active role in conservation projects happening in their communities.

During the Clean Water in Iowa Starts Here campaign, The Big Show will visit locations throughout the state showcasing the people and practices that are having a positive and measurable impact on water quality. The conversations with farmers, landowners, agribusinesses and community leaders will be broadcast on Wednesdays during The Big Show airing from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. on WHO and 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. on WMT.

The Clean Water in Iowa Starts Here campaign is a collaborative effort between a dozen public and private partners, including Agri-Drain, Hagie Manufacturing, Hands on Excavating, Heartland Co-op, Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance, Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Iowa Pork Producers Association, Iowa Soybean Association, Montag Manufacturing, Practical Farmers of Iowa, The Nature Conservancy and TruTerra.

The Clean Water in Iowa Starts Here campaign began in August 2020 and highlighted 16 conservation projects throughout the harvest season. For more information about the campaign, upcoming stops, and rural and urban soil health and water quality practices, visit CleanWaterIowa.org/CleanWaterStartsHere. For assistance implementing conservation practices or to get involved in a community-based project, visit a nearby USDA Service Center or Soil and Water Conservation District office.

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